This morning I drove out to Elim Lodge with a friend to enjoy the Lord's Supper and the morning service.The pianist and organist this morning (and often during the summer) were Wayne and Colleen Robinson, a husband and wife team who play those instruments the way I believe they should be played. Being a piano player myself I can almost anticipate the chords and progressions they are going to use. I love listening to them!
They always play a number of hymns between the two services. I walked to the front of the chapel with a note for each of them requesting that they play William Cowper's There is a Fountain Filled With Blood. Before I was back to my seat they had started playing.
I must confess that I couldn't control my emotions and tears began streaming down my face. How I wish I could have been a contemporary of Cowper's. His excrutiating bouts with depression almost destroyed him and yet he was able to write such powerful poetry and hymns. His friendship with John Newton enabled him to rise above the rubble of his depressed and suicidal lifestyle. My own bouts with depression have given me a much deeper appreciation of Cowper (pronounced Cooper). What a man!
Here are those incredible lyrics from one of my favorite hymns:
There is a fountain filled with blood drawn from Emmanuel’s veins;
And sinners plunged beneath that flood lose all their guilty stains.
Lose all their guilty stains, lose all their guilty stains;
And sinners plunged beneath that flood lose all their guilty stains.
The dying thief rejoiced to see that fountain in his day;
And there may I, though vile as he, wash all my sins away.
Wash all my sins away, wash all my sins away;
And there may I, though vile as he, wash all my sins away.
E’er since, by faith, I saw the stream Thy flowing wounds supply,
Redeeming love has been my theme, and shall be till I die.
And shall be till I die, and shall be till I die;
Redeeming love has been my theme, and shall be till I die.
During my trip to England in late February and early March I visited the Cowper/Newton Museum and saw the Summer House where Cowper penned much of his work. An unforgettable experience!
Yes, this morning was a little foretaste of heaven. Thanks Wayne and Colleen!
~ David
Hello, Mr. Fisher,
ReplyDeleteI am slipping on here tonight, despite my leave of absence, because I don't want to miss a special birthday tomorrow as I am touring the town...please pass this on to your youngest son: (Thank you!)
Happy Birthday, Nathan! May the Lord bless you with a wonderful year, filled with His goodness, and touched by His love. May you grow closer to Him this year, than you did last year, as you learn more about what a wonderful God we serve, and as He draws you unto Him. I hope you have a great day with you family and friends!
From,
Lil Pilgrim Pal
Hello, my hymn book "kindred spirit"
ReplyDeleteA little quiet time after the girls went to bed tonight provided a moment to remember this Charles Wesley gem:
"Rejoice the Lord is King!
Your Lord and King adore!
Rejoice, give thanks, and sing
and TRIUMPH ever more!
Lift up your heart, lift up your voice! Rejoice! again, I say, Rejoice!"
Listen for it in the Rhema traffic circle some morning! And thanks for the space to express some hymns that touch my heart! I'm glad we share the same love of music (including Greater Vision!)
Paul E.
I too am partial to the old hymns. They are more than spiritual songs, they bring theology right down into the heart of man. They stir me like no other music can.
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